In a few moments’ time, Real Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmund in the third matchday of the Champions League knockout phase. Carlo Ancelotti unveiled the starting eleven ahead of the kick-off at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Defeated in Lille on September 2, Real Madrid will be looking to get back to winning ways this Tuesday. After a painful victory over Celta Vigo in La Liga last Saturday, Kylian Mbappé and his team-mates will be up against Nuri Sahin’s side, who are enjoying a fine period. Borussia Dortmund are currently top of the UEFA mini-league, and they are not about to do Madrid any favours, especially after their last defeat in the final of the competition back in June.
The Real Madrid line-up
Carlo Ancelotti will be fielding a 4-3-3 formation with Thibaut Courtois in goal. The in-form Belgian goalkeeper will have the onerous task of keeping his goal intact. In front of him, the pairing of Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao will be responsible for repelling any BVB attacks. On the defensive flanks, Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez will be well represented. After his poor display in Lille, the French left-back will be looking to do better against the lively Donyell Malen.
In midfield, Federico Valverde will obviously start, as will Jude Bellingham, who will play as a No10. Rounding out the midfield is veteran Luka Modric, who shone at the weekend. In addition to their defensive duties, the midfielders will have to feed the attacking trio of Rodrygo Goes, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior, who are all starting to get the hang of things.
BVB’s commando eleven
Opposite them on Tuesday, Nuri Sahin and his team in commando mode will try to topple Real Madrid for the second time in a row in this Champions League campaign in a 4-2-3-1 formation. In goal, of course, should be Gregor Kobel, who could do nothing in the Champions League final to prevent goals from Dani Carvajal and Vini Junior. In defence, Bensebaini, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule and Julian Ryerson will be trying to thwart Madrid’s attacking onslaughts.
Up front, the Bavarian coach, who is a former Madrid player, has put his faith in Marcel Sabitzer and Félix Nmecha to provide defensive balance and allow Jamie Gittens, Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen to cause problems for the Real Madrid defence. These three attacking players will have the onerous task of feeding the ball to Guinean serial striker Serhou Guirassy, who will be lining up up up front.
Here is the full line-up for the duel:
Real Madrid: Courtois – Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy – Valverde, Modric, Bellingham – Rodrygo, Mbappé, Vinicius.
Dortmund: Kobel – Bensebaini, Schlotterbeck, Sule, Ryerson – Nmecha, Sabitzer – Malen, Brandt, Gittens – Guirassy.
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